Sanqoba Comfort Zisongo: From Afternoon Classes to the Ward 23 Ballot

For this 2019 Activator, the journey into politics began with a concern for the young people growing up around him, and a determination to create opportunities where few existed.

From the outside, a neighbourhood can look as though it is doing all right.

In Phumula and Mzimkhulu, Mpumalanga, Comfort Zisongo describes a community with well-structured houses. But a roof cannot tell you who is raising the children inside, or whether the young person next door has spent another day looking for work.

Some homes, he says, are held together by brothers and sisters. Others have only one parent. And when opportunities are scarce, afternoons can disappear around taverns, with little to look forward to the following morning.

For Sanqoba Comfort Zisongo, known to most people as Comfort, these are not somebody else’s problems. They are the realities that pushed him into community work long before he became a candidate for public office.

A member of ACTIVATE! Change Drivers’ 2019 cohort, Zisongo is contesting Ward 23 in the Thembisile Hani Local Municipality, Mpumalanga, under the Service Delivery Party (SDP) in the 4 November local government elections.

What shaped him

“We have a lot of young people who are unemployed,” he explains.

He also speaks about alcohol and substance abuse and families in which the absence of parents leaves children relying on siblings or a single caregiver. Growing up around these challenges shaped his understanding of community development. He came to believe that young people needed more than encouragement to change their circumstances. They needed practical opportunities, guidance and spaces in which to develop their potential.

Rather than accepting these conditions as inevitable, Zisongo began looking for ways to contribute to solutions.

How community involvement became leadership

In 2018, Zisongo founded the Fundanathi Foundation, an organisation that provides community and youth development opportunities. Among its activities are afternoon classes intended to support young people’s learning. His community involvement grew from there.

He helped establish Generational Takeover, an initiative advocating for young people to take up leadership roles. He went on to lead the Thembisile Youth Development Forum, helping to connect youth centres across the municipality. His contribution also extends to the arts. He currently serves as deputy chairperson of a provincial network advocating for community arts centres in Mpumalanga.

One of his proudest achievements, he says, was helping establish the network’s first board.

The work

Perhaps the clearest indication of what drives Zisongo lies in his efforts to create employment opportunities.

Through the Fundanathi Foundation, he says more than 150 people have accessed short-term employment contracts over the past three years. The contracts are temporary, and he recognises the importance of preparing young people for the realities of employment. Beyond connecting them to opportunities, his organisation provides guidance on workplace expectations, professional conduct and navigating the challenges of entering the world of work.

For someone who has never held a job, understanding what to expect and how to conduct themselves can be as important as securing the opportunity itself.

Leadership in practice

Zisongo’s approach to leadership places particular emphasis on equipping young people with skills rather than simply promising them opportunities.

As a facilitator and mentor, he has worked with young people on skills development, funding applications and preparation for economic participation. He argues that encouraging entrepreneurship without providing the necessary knowledge and support leaves aspiring business owners at a disadvantage. “That’s where we come in,” he says.

His experience has also shown him the limitations of short-term interventions. While temporary employment can provide much-needed income and experience, the challenge is creating pathways towards sustainable economic independence.

Community priorities and future plans

Unemployment, alcohol and substance abuse, and the growing number of households without both parents are among the challenges Zisongo identifies in his community.

His decision to contest the elections under the Service Delivery Party was influenced, he says, by the party’s stated emphasis on entrepreneurship and skills development, which he believes aligns with his existing work.

If elected, Zisongo intends to introduce annual targets for mentoring and coaching young people, supporting them through skills training, funding applications and the process of establishing businesses. He believes ward councillors should actively seek opportunities through partnerships with institutions and organisations rather than relying exclusively on projects allocated by municipalities. “We can’t wait for the municipality to hand us projects,” he says.

These are proposals he hopes to pursue if elected, rather than outcomes already achieved. Their success would depend on partnerships, resources and accountability to the residents he seeks to represent.

The contribution they hope to make

Zisongo’s leadership journey reflects his attempt to confront the challenges facing young people from different directions: education, youth organising, arts development, employment support and now electoral politics.

His ambition is to see young people equipped with the skills, mentorship and resources needed to participate meaningfully in their local economy.

The next chapter will be shaped not only by whether he wins a seat on 4 November, but by how effectively his commitment to community development translates into accountable public leadership. For the young people in Phumula and Mzimkhulu, the measure of that leadership will ultimately be found beyond the ballot box, in opportunities they can access and changes they can experience in their everyday lives.

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About the Author:

Ramadimetja Kekana is a freelance writer whose work explores social justice, mental health, education and youth development. Through human-centred storytelling and thought-provoking social commentary, she seeks to raise awareness, challenge prevailing narratives and deepen public understanding of the issues shaping people’s lives. Her writing places particular emphasis on amplifying underrepresented voices, examining systemic inequalities and bringing visibility to the experiences and challenges of marginalised communities. She believes in the power of storytelling to encourage critical reflection, meaningful dialogue and social change.